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ANZAC Day 2022: Ukraine horrors a reminder that peace is fragile

Phil Hickey and John FlintThe West Australian
The fragility of peace and the need for vigilance in the face of aggression is in focus on the eve of Anzac Day commemorations.
Camera IconThe fragility of peace and the need for vigilance in the face of aggression is in focus on the eve of Anzac Day commemorations. Credit: Lee Griffith/WA News

The fragility of peace and the need for vigilance in the face of aggression is in focus on the eve of Anzac Day commemorations.

The conflict in Ukraine has heightened “the reality of horrors of war”, RSLWA chief executive John McCourt said.

“It certainly focuses the mind on what it’s like to live in a free society,” he said.

“And that free society we have in Australia is to a significant degree because of the courage and the fortitude of men and women who served this country. The price for freedom is eternal vigilance.”

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This year will see the return of a full-scale Anzac Day parade in the city.

“Anzac Day is a day where we remember all those who have been victims of war on whatever side. Anzac Day is sacred in that context,” Mr McCourt said.

He said many Australians had only known relative peace.

“Of course, we’ve had the Gulf conflicts, Afghanistan, Timor and Iraq, where I served, but (Ukraine) certainly focuses the mind of the importance of peace,” he said.

Like many people, he was concerned about the war escalating beyond Ukraine.

“It’s very troubling. That’s an understatement — it’s scary,” he said. “We need a strong and prepared country.

“Because if you don’t make sure that you can and are able to stare down your enemies, well, then you’re vulnerable. We need to be strong in that context. Let’s just hope that there’s some reason on the side of the aggressors in these wars to actually see the horribleness of it and the futility of it.”

The dawn service at Kings Park will be invitation only for up to 500 veterans, but the event will be televised.

Mr McCourt explained it was a decision made months ago, because the RSL could not afford to plan a bigger event, only for COVID-19 restrictions to force a sudden change.

“Our first concern was the health and safety of our older veterans,” he said.

“We deliberately scaled the event back to a small, invitation-only event, which would be live broadcast across WA to ensure we could deliver something to our veteran community if restrictions did not change.

The lowering of restrictions to level one at the end of March enabled us to proceed with a full-scale Anzac Day parade.

“This event was being planned full scale as there is no half measure. It’s either on or off as there is so much infrastructure that needs to be secured in advance.”

Parade attendees will only need to socially distance.

“Knowing this event could incur significant cancellation costs formed part of the decision making to not risk incurring similar cancellation costs with the Dawn Service,” Mr McCourt said.

RSL sub-branches around the State will be staging their own services and parades.

It will also be the third year for driveway dawn services, because of the pandemic. The driveway services, across the suburbs, have demonstrated the determination of Australians to maintain the tradition of honouring the Anzacs who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country and to make the world a better place.

The Australian War Memorial has also embraced the idea, with the RSL’s “Light up the Dawn” initiative now part of the Canberra-based institution’s annual ceremony.

RSLWA has partnered with Mix94.5 and Triple M Radio Network to deliver a live broadcast of the Kings Park dawn service, which begins at 5.55am and ends at 6.30am. A download of the commemorative service is also available on the RSLWA website.

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